Chapter 15

Something Here I Can't Explain

After Spirit finished narrating his account, I remained speechless for about a minute or two. There wasn't anything left for me to ask him. He had whole heartedly trusted me with his personal story and told everything from his genuine, and honest heart.

I realized that I had been little too hasty when I judged him for his 'aggressive' character. He had all rights to be weary and unfriendly with humans after all they've done to him. But at the same time, not all two-leggeds were cold barbarians. My owner was the exact opposite of those cavalry men Spirit had encountered. He was sweet, caring and warm.

Sensing how overcome I was with his recital, Spirit raised his brows cautiously. "Anything else you'd like to know?" He asked with a soft nicker.

I blinked and shook my head. "You've satisfied my curiosity quite enough. I don't think there's anything else at the moment."

Spirit smiled with his usual cocky expression. "Perfect. That means it's your turn now."

"My turn?" I repeated slightly confused.

"It's only fair." Spirit dipped his head naturally. "I told you my story...now it's your turn."

I sighed, letting out a soft breath. "What's your question?"

"I won't overwhelm you with too many questions." Spirit began with courteous smirk. "I just want to understand one thing." He paused, and I couldn't help but wonder what exactly he wanted to know about me.

"Why are you so close to that two-legged creature?"

His question was a little bit offensive to me. The way he defined my human as the 'two-legged creature' was slightly upsetting. Little Creek was so much more than that. If Spirit could just open his eyes and see how gentle and kind my human was, things would've been a lot easier. But then again, that's why he had asked me that question. He was curious to know why we were so close. He was willing to learn and make sense of it all. How could I refuse him?

I exhaled and focused my gaze on the intelligent eyes of the mustang. "Well, that requires me to start from the very beginning." I explained and Spirit couldn't help but smile brightly at that.

"Completely fine by me." He said, as his eyes twinkled.

I tried not to smile back at him. He looked so handsome. "Just like you," I started calmly. "I never knew my father. He was a war horse of this tribe. He met my mother, who had been left alone after a feral herd was rounded up by the humans. They connected instantly. And he brought her here in this village and acquainted her with the two-leggeds." I stomped my foot to shake off the flies and continued.

"When my mother got pregnant-"

"Pregnant? How?" Spirit cut me off anxiously.

I stared at him as if trying to comprehend if he was being serious. What kind of a stupid question was that? I raised my eyebrows at him questionably, evidently annoyed. "Are you being serious right now? I think you're old enough to know how that works." I sassed him.

Spirit couldn't hide his slight embarrassment and blushed. "No, I know that." He clarified. "I'm just confused about your mother's sudden pregnancy, did she have a mate back in the herd or?..."

"Oh no, no." I shook my head, snorting. "She fell in love with my father. I forgot to mention that they were together."

Spirit nodded, realization hitting him. "Makes sense."

"In short, after their brief time together, my father passed away in the war before I was born. And though, my mother was by my side for a while, she caught an illness and also left me soon. I was an orphaned filly." I stopped, trying to remain composed. Did I just share such a private tale with a stallion, who I never really liked and trusted as much?

It was Spirit's turn to feel for me, and I could see his eyes falling at my sad past.

"My father belonged to a great Lakota warrior." I kept on, waving away Spirit's devastated countenance. "They had both fallen in battle bravely, but left behind their offspring. Yes, Little Creek is the son of my father's rider."

The dun stallion listened wide-eyed at my narration. Bet he didn't see that one coming.

"Little Creek and I were left without our parents. We only had each other in this world. So he raised me with all the love and care I lacked. He was the one who named me...I was born on a very rainy day. He and I grew up and matured together, experienced many exciting things for the first time together. Spirit, if it weren't for him, I would've never made it out alive on my own." I explained, finally using the stallion's name in the process. "You won't believe just how gentle, sweet and understanding he is. It's like he knows exactly everything about the emotions of our kind. It's amazing. I love my life and I love my friend. I wouldn't have any other way. We share a very strong and unbreakable bond. Nothing and no one will ever come between us." I finished and sighed deeply. Did I just share so much with this stallion?

I could tell that Spirit was perplexed with my revelation, he didn't know what to say. It was obvious that he and I both, had misjudged each other and only now, did we get to know each other's points of views.

Silence fell over us, as we got lost in our own thoughts and emotions. The sun was beginning to set back to earth. I hadn't realized just how long Spirit and I had been conversing with one another. Time flew away so quickly. Before one of us could break this stillness, I decided to tell him something important.

"I know that you and I have different opinions on matters as these," I spoke up, facing him. "But I won't mind if you leave and return to your herd. Sounds like you really miss your freedom and it would be so unfair to keep you here against your will, after all the misadventures you've been through."

"Leave?" Spirit asked surprised, forcing a smile on his muzzle. "How am I supposed to do that? It's your interesting human that has to release me."

"You don't need him to release you." I rolled my eyes at his inability to get subtext. "You can jump that fence right?"

"No, I can't." He threw in quickly.

"Yes, you can!" I insisted, shocked and confused. Didn't he escape from that pen just yesterday? What on earth was he bubbling about!?

"I'm telling you I can't!" He argued back stubbornly, driving me mad in the process.

"Then how did you escape yesterday and save me from Great Conquest?!" I practically screamed at him. Are all studs this clueless?!

"Rain," He began gently, calming me with his softness. "That was done unintentionally. In the heat of the moment. I really wanted to help you and so, attempted the impossible. I had never jumped such a high fence before." He explained to me.

I blinked in shock. "Are you trying to say that your desire to save me was much stronger than your desire to win back your freedom?"

Ugh, he never failed to surprise and fascinate me!

Spirit gazed at me with the warmest expression for a long amount of time, until he finally responded. "Yes."

I almost let out a loud gasp. "Why?"

"I can't explain." Spirit answered honestly, moving a little closer to me.

"It's getting late." I said sharply, completely shying away from his presence.

What was happening?

"We should go back." I turned towards the round pen and Spirit nodded at me, matching me stride for stride.

There was definitely some sort of unexplainable budding between the two of us.

And I became quite sure of it on the next day.

Stay tuned for more!

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